Sherlock was smiling as he walked back into Baker Street.
"Whatever you're thinking about, no," John said.
Sherlock paused in unlooping his scarf, looking across the room at John. "What are you talking about?"
"You've got that smile, so you're thinking about something that I probably won't like, so I'm saying no before you even get the chance to ask."
Sherlock frowned, removing his scarf. "It's nothing bad and it doesn't involve you, anyway." He shrugged off his coat, hanging it on the back of the door. "It's for a case," he added, putting his gloves in the coat pocket.
"Still, no."
"I'm not asking permission."
"I don't want to know," John replied, holding up his hands. "Whatever makes you smile like that, I do not want to know about. Keep it away from me. Unless it's a particularly interesting case."
"It's for an interesting case," Sherlock allowed, pouring himself a cup of tea. "But I'm still not sure that you want to know about it."
John shook his head, standing. "If you're unsure, then I really don't want to know. Look, why is it that every time I stop by, you're not even here?"
Sherlock shrugged, flopping onto the sofa. "Why is it that you don't call before you stop by?" he drawled, taking another sip of his tea.
"I just figured that since you never left the flat much when I lived with you, you wouldn't be out of the flat so much," John muttered.
"I go out when I have a case. Or need to utilize the lab at the hospital. Or when I'm forced to go shopping now," he added distastefully.
"Shame that you have to fight the queue at Tesco on your own," John said. "I've got to get back home."
"You don't have to," Sherlock mumbled.
"Don't start that, Sherlock; I've been here for an hour and a half and I texted you, which you never responded to, by the way."
Sherlock took a drink of his tea. "I'm not starting anything. I'm just saying that you don't have to go back home. Mary is quite capable in taking care of herself and you do not have to be at the flat to welcome her home."
"No," John said, picking up his jacket, "I don't. But I want to. I'm away from her eight hours a day. I miss her."
"Ugh." Sherlock turned back to his tea.
"I'll text you later."
"Do try to spare me the boring details of the newest developments in your life. The text about the new jumper Mary bought you nearly killed me."
"Shut up..." John muttered, zipping his coat. "It's a nice jumper. Comfortable."
"I know. You expressed it nearly every variant available to the English language."
John shook his head. "You never change."
"Of course I don't," Sherlock said, smiling behind his teacup.
"Sherlock?"
Sherlock didn't look up from The Sunday Telegraph. "Hmm?"
The newspaper was suddenly pushed out of the way and Sherlock opened his mouth to complain, but a pair of bright green eyes gazed back at him.
"You didn't wish me 'good morning'," she accused.
Sherlock smiled absentmindedly. "Pardon my lack of greeting. I was caught up in the riveting tale of the advice columns," he said easily.
"Anything good in?" she asked, flopping onto the sofa next to Sherlock.
"No. Not unless you're interested in money laundering or stolen jewels, oh, or the trouble with technology cutting down on face-to-face communication," Sherlock said, snaking his arm around her to pull her close. "Did you sleep well?"
"Mmm..." She nuzzled her face into his shoulder. "I would sleep better if you didn't wake up so early. You're so warm... and I like to cuddle."
Sherlock brushed a piece of her auburn hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. "Yes, but I like time to think. Morning and night are the most quiet and you and I are respectively busy at night-time. So, morning it is."
She sighed, nuzzling closer. "I know..."
Sherlock just smiled and rest his chin on the top of her head, holding her close as they welcomed the early morning hours together.
Sherlock smiled widely, listening to John's retreating footsteps.
"I never change at all..."
DON'T EVERYBODY FREAK OUT.
It's okay! Take a deep breath! Everything's fine! There's a woman! No, really, don't freak out!
Just trust me. I'm meticulous when it involves being in character, and if you follow me, you know that, so just chill out, alright? I'm not meaning to offend anyone- if you don't like what you read, you don't have to continue reading as new chapters are posted. But really. I'm utterly careful about the way I write characters, so don't worry too much just yet.
I do not own Sherlock. Thank you!